Cover for sap-pails



(No Model.)

T. STOWE. COVER FOR SAP PAILS.

No. 462,514. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

/'/v VENTOH A TTOHNEYS w ESSES UNITED STATns PATENT OFFICE.

TITUS STO'WE, OF READSBOROUGII, VERMONT.

COVER FOR SAP-PAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,514, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed February 26, 1891- Serial No.382,866. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,T1ros Srown, of Readsborough, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Root for Sap-Pails, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists in a roof or cover adapted to be readily attached to a tree from which the sap is tapped-such as the maple tree, for instance-t0 protect the sap received within a pail, bucket, or receptacle placed to catch it from being deteriorated or fouled by rain or exposure in stormy weather; also, from dust or dirt getting in, and, if necessary, from exposure to the sun, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a maple-tree plantation in part with my invention as applied to one or more of the trees over the spout used to tap the sap and over a pail or bucket in position for receiving the sap; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the root or cover detached, a portion of it being broken away to show its construction.

A indicates the roof or cover to be attached to the tree from which the sap is drawn by a spout Z), inserted in the tree B, as usual, and O the pail, bucket, or tub designed to receive the flowing sap. This cover is made to hang or project over said spout and pail as a roof to keep out the rain and to protect the sap in the pail from exposure to stormy weather and from dirt or dust getting in; also, if necessary, from exposure to the hot rays of the sun. Said cover or roof I make of a light and cheap materialsuch as paper or paper-board covered with a water-proof material c-to make it impervious to rain or the weather, as

' paper pails are made; but it is in a fiat or sheet form, and is provided at or near its rear margin with backwardly-projecting laterally yielding or springing hooks d cl, formed at the ends of a cross-bar cl, the wire being so bent at the juncture of the cross-bar and arms as to form two attaehingeyes (1*, through which are passed the staples 6, said staples also passportation.

ing through the strip fand the cover. The hooked arms (1 d, it will be noticed, cross the upper side of the cross-piece (1, so that when the hooks are driven into a tree the inner end of the cover will swing up against the crossbar d, and the cover will thus be supported at the proper angle, though it may be swung up from time to time, as occasion may require. The bends which form the eyes (1 also give the necessary spring to the arms d.

To apply this roof or cover A to the tree, its back edge is placed up against the tree over the spout b and sap-pail C, and its laterally springing or yielding hooks d (l are taken hold of and strained apart to enable the sharpened outer ends of them to engage with the tree on opposite sides, as shown. The roof or coverwill then have a pitch to shed any rain or aught else falling upon it and to give the desired protection to the sap entering and deposited in the receiving-pail, as hereinbefore mentioned. Then the roof or cover is thus attached, the metal covering or sheathing f will serve to prevent the cover from wear by contact with the tree, and after the cover has been removed from the tree its hooks d d may be laid flat against or on the cover to prevent breakage and give compactness to the device and to facilitate trans- Said root or cover A may be made of any desired shape and size to adapt it to the use for which it is intended, and it requires no special sap receptacle or pail; but any ordinary one may be used. It, too, is readily applied and removed when required. The hooks, which have their noses face each other, may be arranged at any desired distance apart, and when turned back serve to support the roof at the desired angle.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cover for sap-pails, provided near its inner or rear edge with a supporting and attaching device formed of a single piece of wire and consisting in the transverse crosspiece d, spring-hooked arms (1 d, crossing the upper side of the cross-piece at its ends, eyes d (2 formed at the juncture of said arms and cross-piece, and the staples 6, extending down through the eyes and cover from the upper side, whereby when the hooks on the arms and eyes (1 (Z at the juncture of the arms and cross-bar, and the staples e 6, passed down through the eyes; platef, and the cover,whereby the cover will be held at the proper angle and against falling at its forward edge down upon the pail, substantially as set forth.

TITUS STOWE. W'itnesses:

M. M. HOUGHTON, A. A. DAVIS. 

